A visit to Cat Town, Oakland, CA was top of the list of mum’s must-see spots when she visited the San Francisco area. Let the Dash Kitten Crew tell you about what she saw.
Cat Town was the first cat cafe in the USA and is the only non-profit cat cafe in the country, so to say she was excited is a bit of an understatement. Having visited a cat cafe in Paris, she was keen to see what Cat Town (a partnership with Adam Myatt of Hoodcats and Ann Dunn, Exec. Director and Founder of Cat Town) was like.
Welcome to Cat Town!
Coming into the Cat Town ‘cafe area’ visitors are welcomed by the most gorgeous paintings and photographs of cats, and a delicious selection of edible human treats. Mum could sit and relax with a coffee or soft drink, or browse the merchandise, (she succumbed to a Cat Town hoody – knowing that all purchases help Cat Town to help more cats!)
Entrance is by either by pre-booked entry or walk-in (TIP: Booking is recommended for weekends and holidays) and visitors are given clear and simple instructions about what to do when entering the cat area.
There is a limit of 10 people at any one time so there are no crowds to stress the cats. After a short wait, Mum and Dad were allowed to enter the cat area. Mum took a deep
WOW! This is Cat Town Oakland
Check out the pictures of the absolutely fantastic cat room for yourself …… (mouse over for label – click for a full-size image)
The cat ‘staff’ are all extremely helpful, and very well-informed about the cats in residence, and there is a wall with lots and lots of cat pictures on it – the adopted former residents! Over 1,400 cats have been helped find homes so far and Mum thought that was just so fantastic and cool!
Mum just wanted to do a happy dance seeing all the success stories proudly displayed side by side on the wall. Cat Town staff also told us, and our hosts Savvy’s Mom L and Dad P, about the vitally important Hawaii outreach work done in association with Kauai Community Cats.
- We invite you to read Savvy’s post here about the KCC. It is amazing and merits your attention.
What to see in Cat Town, Oakland
There are beautiful and inventive murals decorating the walls, and each of the cat towers in a landmark in the San Francisco area. They are not just decorative ornaments for human entertainment, Mum found plenty of cats sleeping happily in famous towers; or on kitty cushions in totally blissed out comfort, halfway up a famous tourist attraction. Mum was so thrilled she just stood there for a moment, taking it all in, looking around at the bright, spotlessly clean room, and seeing so many happy and contented cats.
There are plenty of places for visitors to sit and relax and enjoy some cat company. Some of the cats may be asleep but, when Mum visited, several young cats were happy to show off their wand toy moves, ping-pong balls, and pose on the elegant scratchers.
The whole cat area is well-lit, warm and comfortable, and the cafe area well stocked with tasty treats and drinks to nourish the humans as they wait for their time slot, or after they come out. There is no stress, no pressure and everyone is therefore the same reason……
THEY LOVE CATS and CAT TOWN, OAKLAND!
Cat Town can be very proud of the fact they have formed a unique partnership with Oakland Animal Services to help reduce the euthanasia rate of cats at Oakland’s shelter from over 42% to 10% since 2011. Mum isn’t very good at sums but that sounds like a lot of saved lives to her! Working hand-in-paw with authorities can benefit cats, and their communities, a lot – Cat Town has proved this, and other local authorities around the world should take note. There is a lot more information about Cat Town here.
We loved our visit – it was a real highlight of our trip to the San Francisco area.
Thanks a million to Savannah’s Paw Tracks Mom L, and Dad P, for your generous and gracious hospitality for Mum and Dad.
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I love all that art work decorating the place. I have only been to the Meow Parlour in NYC..
Wow! That’s an impressive place, cats or not (but I’m glad they DO have cats)! I wish a cat cafe would come to my town. I’d drag all the dog people I know! Glad you got to visit this place while you were in the US!
Too cool!! I’m so glad you were able to visit! It sounds like an awesome place to check out! Yay for spots that embrace humans and cats!
The peep and I have both fallen in love with that big picture on the wall with the various cats sittin’ on the buildings’ roofs. A true work of art, for sure. MOUSES!
Purrs,
Seville
How exciting… I’m so jelly!!! I chipped in to a fundraiser for their first calendar before this location became a reality, so I’m so pleased that one of my friends has been there!
Annette x
Mom Paula visited her first cat cafe in NYC this past week. We think it’s a wonderful place for people to visit and relax with kitties who are rescued from shelters and then find wonderful forever homes.
Cat Town looks awesome! I would definitely want to visit if I was in the area. The paintings are very cool. I love seeing cat cafes popping up everywhere.
What an incredible place! I’m so happy to see that several cat cafés have opened up in the US, I hope to see so many more. These cat rooms are more like kitty mansions! Kudos for Cat Town and their community for finding homes for so many cats!
Love & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
That looks like so much fun. I need to go west. Thanks for the cool post.
How fun! It’s so cool to see so many of these popping up!
That looks like an awesome place! Even though I am more of a dog person, I would love to visit a cat cafe for myself. I am going to San Francisco next month for a wedding, I’ll see if I can get to Cat Town Cafe while I’m there!
It is worth a visit Beth. They do good snacks as well!
Cat Town Cafe looks and sounds like an amazing place. I will visit it the next time I go to visit my Mom, who lives not too far from Oakland!
Wow, that is a cat town indeed.
I have been wanting to visit this area to attend an artist’s workshop. Now I definitely will! I’m so happy to see more places like this opening. Thank you for sharing.
I love this idea, and wish they would do one for dogs now too
Oh I love the look of this place and the mission- great photos. How fantastic what they have achieved so far. I just saw a new cat cafe near me so will have to investigate.
I watched a show about Cat Town and also wrote a story about it – though I have not visited it yet. I just love how it is decorated! So, cheerful and light. I also love that they work with Oakland Animal Services. I really want to visit Cat Town!
Love this. My next blog will be about where to travel to see cat sites like this one…
You’re so lucky you got to visit the cafe! Mommy saw that cafe featured in a show.
Cat Town looks like a truly amazing place, we’re glad you got to visit when you were in San Francisco. What a record number of adoptions too- fantastic!
That is really awesome that they have helped over 1,400 cats!!
We have a group that is trying to start a cat cafe here in the Dallas area. They will be working with rescue groups. I hope they are able to get the project off the ground and that it is a huge success. I think this is a great way to help kitties.
We wish them well. It is a big undertaking to do well but done properly a cat cafe is a great adoption avenue.
What fun. Looks like a great place to visit. Fanks fur sharin’.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
I like the landmark towers. There’s one here in Portland and I still haven’t been there yet.
FABULOUS! This is so much fun and such a wonderful cause! Thanks for sharing!
This is fantastic!!! I wish they had places here for kitties!!! Great photos too!
If I don’t get to visit a cat cafe someday soon I’m going to bust!!! What a pawsome place.
Absolutely Fantastic !
=^x^=
MEOW
That sure looks like a cool place and it’s right up our alley…so to speak!
What an amazing place! The mom would love to visit Cat Town too.
That looks like a wonderful place, and a fantastic amount of adoptions.
Amazing ! What a wonderful place ! Thanks for sharing ! Purrs
This sounds like such an awesome cat cafe!
This place looks amazing. If I ever make it up to that area, I hope to visit it. I did hear that they are opening a cat cafe in the LA area. I will have to check it out!
guys….thanx for sharin thiz post !!! how total lee kewl iz thiz cafe; we N joyed de toor…heerz hopin all de catz find ther for everz …insert heartz XXX
We hadn’t seen photos of Cat Town since right after it opened. It looks and sounds incredible. 1,400 adoptions is a fabulous number. Mom is so happy you got to visit and hopes she can get there some day. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
APAWS APAWS APAWS !!!! Cat Town Cafe is a very special place indeed. Excellent visit and photos